2021 marks the 25th birthday of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). In its run, the WNBA has housed incredible players, boasted several dynasty teams, and has sought to bring social change on and off the court. The WNBA is a fixture in women’s sports, deserving all the attention and prestige regularly afforded to men’s professional sports teams.
A brief history
On April 24, 1996, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) board of governors approved the concept of the WNBA, set to begin play in June of 1997. The WNBA was first slated to be a summer league to showcase basketball talent in the US, with women playing a short, 28-game season. It was initially pitched as a summer league so that the WNBA wouldn’t have to compete with the already-established NBA, and players could augment their salaries by continuing to play abroad during the regular season. The WNBA, at its inception, featured eight teams, all owned by the NBA: the Eastern Conference included the Charlotte Sting, Cleveland Rockers, Houston Comets, and the New York Liberty; the Western Conference included the Los Angeles Sparks, Phoenix Mercury, Sacramento Monarchs, and the Utah Stars. On June 21, 1997, the WNBA was officially launched with a ceremonial jump ball between Lisa Leslie of the Los Angeles Sparks and Kym Hampton of the New York Liberty. In 1999, the WNBA held its first All-Star game, an achievement kicked off by the famous Whitney Houston singing the national anthem.
Today, while teams have changed, the WNBA stands strong as one of the most prolific leagues for women’s sports in North America. There are currently 12 teams in the WNBA: independently owned are the Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Seattle Storm; still connected to the NBA are the New York Liberty, Indiana Fever, Minnesota Lynx, Phoenix Mercury, and the Washington Mystics. In addition to having expanded franchises, the WNBA has a regular 34-game season plus annual All-Star games. While the league started off with a single elimination style final-four championship, the post-season currently features eight teams who earn their playoff bids with the best end-of-season records.
Champions
2020: Seattle Storm
2019: Washington Mystics
2018: Seattle Storm
2017: Minnesota Lynx
2016: Los Angeles Sparks
2015: Minnesota Lynx
2014: Phoenix Mercury
2013: Minnesota Lynx
2012: Indiana Fever
2011: Minnesota Lynx
2010: Seattle Storm
2009: Phoenix Mercury
2008: Detroit Shock
2007: Phoenix Mercury
2006: Detroit Shock
2005: Sacramento Monarchs
2004: Seattle Storm
2003: Detroit Shock
2002: Los Angeles Sparks
2001: Los Angeles Sparks
2000: Houston Comets
1999: Houston Comets
1998: Houston Comets
1997: Houston Comets
The WNBA and the queer community
The WNBA has always been a place where social justice is important. When the league opened play, there was a strong gay community within the fan-base and it was common knowledge that some players within the WNBA were in queer relationships. While the league initially seemed to have a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy with this (the league’s site only announced the marriages of heterosexual players until the 2000’s), this didn’t prevent franchises from selectively acknowledging annual Pride Day events. In 2002, the New York Liberty’s Sue Wicks became one of the first WNBA players to publicly come out. This was followed by the increasing acceptance and visibility of queer players, with the likes of Seimone Augustus, Diana Taurasi, and Sue Bird all publicly showing and talking about their queer relationships. The WNBA was also the first pro league to launch an official Pride campaign in 2014, with the designation of a nationally televised “Pride Game,” participation in local Pride festivals, and targetted advertising with lesbian media.
The WNBA and the fight for racial justice
The players in the WNBA have been way-makers in the case of publicly expressing support for racial justice. On July 9, 2016, the Minnesota Lynx wore custom shirts that read “Change Starts With Us: Justice & Accountability,” with the back of their shirts honouring Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, two Black men murdered by police. The New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury followed suit shortly after, wearing custom black shirts during their warm-ups that read #BlackLivesMatter. After the league itself issued fines to these teams and players for uniform violations, the players stood strong and stood together: following a game against each other after fines had been issued, the New York Liberty and Indiana Fever held media blackouts, refusing to answer questions about basketball until they felt their concerns had been adequately addressed. Even after fines were rescinded, the Indiana Fever team took a knee during the national anthem that played before their playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury. Two Phoenix Mercury players also took a knee, an objective sign of support for the National Football League’s Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling protest against racial injustice across the US.
Dynasties
- Seattle Storm (2000-present)
- Championships: four, in 2004, 2010, 2018, 2020
- League all-timers: Sue Bird in assists (3031), and games (545)
- Face of the franchise: Sue Bird (2002-present)
- Minnesota Lynx (1999-present)
- Championships: four, in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017
- League all-timers: Maya Moore (MVP in 2014) and Sylvia Fowles (MVP in 2017)
- Sylvia Fowles in rebounds (3640)
- Face of the franchise: Seimone Augustus (2006-2019)
- Los Angeles Sparks (1997-present)
- Championships: three, in 2001, 2002, 2016
- League all-timers: Nneka Ogwumike (MVP 2016) Candace Parker (MVP 2008, 2013), Lisa Leslie (MVP 2001, 2004, 2006)
- Lisa Leslie also career stats leader in WNBA for defensive rating (88.43)
- Face of the franchise: Lisa Leslia (1997-2009)
- Phoenix Mercury (1997-present)
- Championships: three, in 2007, 2009, 2014
- League all-timers: Diana Taurasi (MVP 2009)
- Diana Taurasi also highest in points (9161), 3-pointers made/attempted, and free throws made/attempted
- Face of the franchise: Diana Taurasi (2004-present)
- Houston Comets (1997-2008; folded due to 2008 financial crisis)
- Championships: four, in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- League all-timers: Sheryle Swoopes (MVP in 2000, 2002, 2005) and Cynthia Cooper (1997, 1998)
- Cynthia Cooper lead in scoring average (20.98), minutes per game average (35.19) and player efficiency rating (28.72)
- Face of the franchise: Sheryl Swoopes (1997-2007)
Playmakers: on and off the court
Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets): first woman to have a Nike signature shoe, 1995
Tina Thompson (Houston Comets): first-ever draft pick in the WNBA, 1997
Teresa Weatherspoon (New York Liberty): first buzzer-beater in a finals game against the Houston Comets, shot with 2.4 seconds on the clock from half-court to put the Liberty up 68-67, 1999
Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks): first woman to dunk in the WNBA in a game against the Miami Sol, 2002
Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks): first MVP and rookie of the year in the same season, 2008
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke (Houston Comets): first WNBA player in the Basketball Hall of Fame, 2010
Rebekkah Brunson (Sacramento Monarchs and Minnesota Lynx): only player to win five WNBA titles, 2017
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury): first player with 1,000 3-pointers in the WNBA, 2018
Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics): first player to join the 50-40-90 club, 2019
Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks): first WNBA Players Association President to negotiate six-figure average earnings, 2020
Sue Bird (Seattle Storm): first to win titles in three different decades, 2020
Layshia Clarendon (New York Liberty): first openely trans, non-binary player, 2020
Renee Montgomery (Atlanta Dream owner): first former player to be a team owner and executive, 2021